Half of his eight to thomas gogin



human 6. E. SPILLER.

Steam Pump Regulator. No. 229,644. Patented July 6, 1880.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. SPILLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO THOMAS GOGIN, OF SAME PLACE.

STEAM-PUMP REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,644, dated July 6, 1880.

Application filed March 24, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SPILLER, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Steam-Pump Regulators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for regulating steam -pumps by controlling the amount of steam received in the pumping-engine by the pressure in the discharge-pipe in such manner that the amount of steam is reduced as the said liquid pressure is increased.

The invention consists in the combination, with a valve in the steam-pipe leading to the engine, of a pressure-cylinder connected with the discharge-pipe conveying the pumped liquid and a plunger: in the said cylinder, to be acted upon by the pressure of the pumped liquid and moved against the resistingforce of a spring, being adapted fin said movement to close fie steam-valve also, in the combination, with the steam-valve of a pump and apressure-cylinder and plunger therein, of an adjustable spring to acton the said plunger inopposition to the pressure of the liquid in the said cylinder, yieldin to allow the plunger to move in the direction to close the steam-valve when the liquid pressure is increased, and expanding to allow the steam-valve to open more widel when the said pressure is diminished; also, in the combination, with a steam-valve and pressure device to close it as the pressure of the pumped liquid increases, of a spring to act on the valve or its stem to open the said valve when the pressure device ceases to act on it; also, in the combination, with the steam-valve of a pump and a liquid-pressure device to regulate the action of the said valve, of a suitable valve-stem to enable the operator to hold the steam-valve open in opposition'to the pressure device, which would otherwise close it, the said device to be used in case a greater than normal liquid pressure is desired also, in the combination, with a cylinder to receive a liquid and a plunger therein to be operated by the pressure of the said liquid, of a small groove in the inner surface of the said cylinder extending below the upper surface of the plunger and connected with an orifice leading out of the cylinder, to enable any sediment to be I drawn 011' without disturbing the pressure on the plunger.

This invention-is especially valuablein connection with pumping apparatus in which the liquid is used directly from the dischargepipes of the pump without theintervention of a reservoir. In such an arrangement a rapid consumption of the liquid pumped will reduce the pressure in the water-pipes, and with my invention the said reduction in pressure will be accompanied by an increase in the amount of steam supplied to the engine, which will consequently be enabled to supply the increased demand; but a reduction in the consumption will increase the pressure, cut off the steam, and slow up the pump, and if the discharge-pipe were totally closed the pumpingengine would immediately increasethe pressure sufliciently to wholly close the steam-valve, and thus come to rest without shock to the pipes or valves of the pump.

In pumps not provided with my regulator, when the consumption is suddenly decreased, the pump-engine, acting with full steam-pressure in addition to the shock naturally occasioned by the checking of the flow of liquid, often bursts the pipes or drives the valves through their seats.

Figure l is a side elevation of my regulator for pumps, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section thereof.

The steam-valve a (shown as a globe-valve of usual construction) is placed in the steampipe at any convenient point, and is provided with avalve-stem, b 1). (Shown as extended out through suitable stuffing-boxes on both sides of the valve.)

A spring, 0, always tends to keep the valve open, and is intended to be at least strong enough to overcome the friction of the valvestem in the stuffing-boxes.

The pressure mechanism is supported on a suitable frame-work (shown as two posts, at 01) attached to the valve, and a yoke, c, bolted upon them.

The pressure-cylinder f, supported in the yoke e, is connected by a suitable pipe with the discharge or pressure pipe of the pump, and the liquid in the said cylinder is consequently always under the same pressure as that in the said discharge-pipe.

A plnnger, q, properly titted in the cylinder to receive the pressure of the liquid therein on its upper surface, temling to press it down, is provided with a rod, h, having a head, i, properly placed tobear upon the head j of the valvestem. The plungerg is held up against the pressure of the liquid by a spring, k, bearing against a collar, I, its'lower end restingon the yoke m, capable of being adjusted lll position on the rods 11 by the nuts n to regulate the pressure of the said spring It.

The movement of the plunger is limited in the upward direction by the collar I engaging the under side of the yoke o, the position of which maybe adjusted by the nuts 0 to allow the proper opening of the valve (1, which in coming to its seat limits the downward movement of the plunger, and at the same time stops the pump, so that the liquid pressure, when the pump is automatically regulated, can never be greater than what is sutticient, in aeting on the head of the plunger g, to compress the springs k e the distance of the extreme movement ot the said plunger when limited as just described.

The pressure of the spring I.- should he so adjusted that the valve a will allow steam enough to pass to cause the pump to give the maximum discharge at the desired normal pressure, and when, as is sometimes desired, the discharge or pressure thereof is to he increased above the normal amount for a short time the operator, by means of the lower end, b,ofthe valve-stem, isenabled tohold the valve open wider than the pressure on the plunger would admit, he then overcoming a portion of that pressure.

If desired, a suitable lever or handle may be employed in connection with the said valvestem.

As the liquid does not necessarily circulate in the pressure-cylinder, there is likely to be adeposit of sediment, which will interfere with the action of the plunger. In order to insure that said sediment be. drawn off without interfering with the operation ot the regulator, 1 provide a groove, 1), in the innersnrface ot'the cylinder, preferably spiral, as shown, and extended below the upper surface of the plunger, the said groove terminating at an orifice, r, passing out of the eylimler, to which a suitable pipe and cock may be attached to enable the sediment aml turbid portion of the liquid to be drawn off.

The operation of the automatic regulator is as follows: It being adjusted, as described, to cause the pumptosupplythemaximum amount of liquid desired at a pressure sutiicient for ordinary purposes, if the consumption is at any time diminished the engine, working with the same power, will increase the pressure of the liquid in the discharge-pipe and pressure-cylinder f, and the said liquid will consequently depress the plunger 9 and the valve (1 until only suflicient steam is supplied to properly work the pump for the decreased demand. When the demand for liquid is again increased the reverse operation takes place, more steam being supplied to the engine to cause it to perform its increased work.

It will be observed that the pressure of the liquid can only vary between short limits, the apparatus thus acting at the same time as a regulator for the engine and for the fluid pressure of the pumped liquid.

It is obvious that any form of fluid-motor for pumping can be controlled in the same manner.

If used in connection with a stand-pipe, the spring k can be properly adjusted to stop the pump when the liquid has arisen to any desired height in the said stand-pipe.

I claim- 1. In a steam-pump regulator, the following elements: a pressure-cylinder and plunger therein, a spring to resist the movement of said plunger, and movable yoke to adjust the force of said spring, aml a steam-valve moved positively in one direction by the said plunger and intermediate rods and in the other direction by a spring, substantially as described.

2. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination, with the steam-valve, ofa pressurecylinder and plunger therein, adapted in its movement to close the steam valve, and an adjustable spring to resist the said movement of the plunger, substantially as described.

.5. The combinatiomwith the steam-valve and mechanism to automatically close it, ot'a spring to open the said valve when not acted upon by the said closing mechanism, a pressure-cylinder, and plunger, substantially as described.

4. The steam-valve and a pressure-cylinder and plunger therein to control the said valve, and a spring to resist the movement of the said plunger in closing the valve, the spring thus controlling the plunger, and the latter the valve, and consequently the engine, whereby the fluid pressure cannot be greater than that required to compress the said spring sufticiently to allow the valve to be closed, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

5. In a pumping apparatus, a steam-valve and automatic controlling mechanism therefor, combined with means to enable the operator to operate the said valve directly and independently of the automatic mechanism, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

6. A cylinder and plunger fitted therein to receive a liquid, the said cylinder being provided with a groove in its inner surface connee-ted with an orifice to enable the sediment to be drawn off without changing the pressure, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GHARLES E. SPILLER.

Witnesses Jos. P. LIVERMORE, N. E. 0. WHITNEY. 

